--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The prince who relies upon their words…" description: "\"The prince who relies upon their words, without having otherwise provided for his security, is ruined; for friendships that are won by awards, and not ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_adversity_the-prince-who-relies-upon-their-words-w_3106785.jpg" --- # The prince who relies upon their words, without having… ![“The prince who relies upon their words, without having otherwise provided for his security, is ruined; for friendships that are won by awards, and not by greatness and nobility of soul, although deserved, yet are not real, and cannot be depended upon in time of adversity.” quote by Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_adversity_the-prince-who-relies-upon-their-words-w_3106785.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_adversity_the-prince-who-relies-upon-their-words-w_3106785.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_adversity_the-prince-who-relies-upon-their-words-w_3106785.jpg) > “The prince who relies upon their words, without having otherwise provided for his security, is ruined; for friendships that are won by awards, and not by greatness and nobility of soul, although deserved, yet are not real, and cannot be depended upon in time of adversity.” [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Relying on flattery or awards without genuine merit leads to fragile alliances that fail in crises. **In simple terms:** Empty praise weakens true support. Key Takeaway Cultivate authentic relationships. Themes politics leadership trust Mood reflective strategic Type philosophical advisory When to use this quote - political campaigns - business partnerships - team building - diplomacy Key Concepts social capital authenticity reputation Questions to Reflect On - What values should guide your alliances? - How do you test the durability of a friendship? A Different Perspective Superficial accolades may mask underlying weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [Nobility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nobility/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Times of adversity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/times-of-adversity/) ## Related quotes > [A wise prince then...should never be idle in times of peace but should industriously lay up stores of which to avail himself in times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/a-wise-prince-then-should-never-be-idle-in-times-of-peace-but-should/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“A prince may be seen happy today and ruined tomorrow without having shown any chance in his character. For the prince who relies entirely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-jordan/a-prince-may-be-seen-happy-today-and-ruined-tomorrow-without-having/) [Neil Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-jordan/) > [“But confining myself more to the particular, I say that a prince may be seen happy to-day and ruined to-morrow without having shown any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/but-confining-myself-more-to-the-particular-i-say-that-a-prince-may/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [A prince who relies entirely upon fortune will fail when his fortune changes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-prince-who-relies-entirely-upon-fortune-will-fail-when-his-fortune/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If the chief party, whether it be the people, or the army, or the nobility, which you think most useful and of most consequence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/if-the-chief-party-whether-it-be-the-people-or-the-army-or-the/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [And the prince who has relied solely on their words, without making other preparations, is ruined, for the friendship which is gained by purchase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/and-the-prince-who-has-relied-solely-on-their-words-without-making/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Prosperity is a great teacher; adversity is a greater. Possession pampers the mind; privation trains and strengthens it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/prosperity-is-a-great-teacher-adversity-is-a-greater-possession/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Adversity is like a strong wind. I don't mean just that it holds us back from places we might otherwise go. It also tears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-golden/adversity-is-like-a-strong-wind-i-don-t-mean-just-that-it-holds-us/) [Arthur Golden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-golden/) > [He that lendeth to another in time of prosperity, shall never want help himself in the time of adversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/he-that-lendeth-to-another-in-time-of-prosperity-shall-never-want/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [In time of prosperity friends will be plenty; In time of adversity not one in twenty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howell/in-time-of-prosperity-friends-will-be-plenty-in-time-of-adversity-not/) [James Howell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howell/) > [I believe that the souls of women flatten and anchor themselves in times of adversity, lay in for the stay. I've heard that when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-believe-that-the-souls-of-women-flatten-and-anchor-themselves-in-2/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [Money powers prey upon the nation in times of peace & conspire against it in times of adversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/money-powers-prey-upon-the-nation-in-times-of-peace-conspire-against/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [The measure of every man’s virtue is best revealed in time of adversity - adversity that does not weaken a man but rather shows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/the-measure-of-every-man-s-virtue-is-best-revealed-in-time-of/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [I believe that the souls of women flatten and anchor themselves in times of adversity, lay in for the stay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-berg/i-believe-that-the-souls-of-women-flatten-and-anchor-themselves-in/) [Elizabeth Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-berg/) > [There are times in everyone's life when something constructive is born out of adversity... when things seem so bad that you've got to grab…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-iacocca/there-are-times-in-everyone-s-life-when-something-constructive-is/) [Lee Iacocca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-iacocca/) ## More by Niccolo Machiavelli > [Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-generally-decide-upon-a-middle-course-which-is-most-hazardous-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/because-there-are-three-classes-of-intellects-one-which-comprehends/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/it-is-the-duty-of-a-man-of-honor-to-teach-others-the-good-which-he/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who believes that new benefits make men of high station forget old injuries deceives himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-believes-that-new-benefits-make-men-of-high-station-forget/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [He who has once begun to live by rapine always finds reasons for taking what is not his.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-has-once-begun-to-live-by-rapine-always-finds-reasons-for/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/everyone-who-wants-to-know-what-will-happen-ought-to-examine-what-has/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Speaking generally, men are ungrateful, fickle, hypocritical, fearful odanger and covetous ogain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/speaking-generally-men-are-ungrateful-fickle-hypocritical-fearful/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/there-is-nothing-as-likely-to-succeed-as-what-the-enemy-believes-you/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/for-the-great-majority-of-mankind-are-satisfied-with-appearance-as/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself, and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; for, provided…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/that-prince-is-highly-esteemed-who-conveys-this-impression-of-himself/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“Anyone who studies present and ancient affairs will easily see how in all cities and all peoples there still exist, and have always existed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/anyone-who-studies-present-and-ancient-affairs-will-easily-see-how-in/) [Niccolò Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/i-believe-that-it-is-possible-for-one-to-praise-without-concern-any/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/men-are-always-averse-to-enterprises-in-which-they-foresee/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [“He who causes another to become powerful ruins himself, for he brings such a power into being either by design or by force, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/he-who-causes-another-to-become-powerful-ruins-himself-for-he-brings/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) > [One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/one-never-finds-anything-perfectly-pure-and-exempt-from-danger/) [Niccolo Machiavelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) [Explore all 590 Niccolo Machiavelli quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/) ## More Adversity quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [When we have public success we also have private struggles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deion-sanders/when-we-have-public-success-we-also-have-private-struggles/) [Deion Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deion-sanders/) > [“The threats that resurfaced in the past 10 years were not an aberration. Al Qaeda and terrorism or one such threat, but it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-friedman/the-threats-that-resurfaced-in-the-past-10-years-were-not-an/) [George Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-friedman/) > [He who is content with what has been done is an obstacle in the path of progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/he-who-is-content-with-what-has-been-done-is-an-obstacle-in-the-path/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [“Friction is necessary. Ease of life leads to complacency and the atrophy of the human will and spirit. Within our struggles lives our strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/friction-is-necessary-ease-of-life-leads-to-complacency-and-the/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“Every adversity is just another opportunity to excel a little more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-templet/every-adversity-is-just-another-opportunity-to-excel-a-little-more/) [Michel Templet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-templet/) > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buckham-kennedy/every-trial-endured-and-weathered-in-the-right-spirit-makes-a-soul/) James Buckham Kennedy > [Honesty, by evil fortune tried, Finds in adversity the seed of praise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/honesty-by-evil-fortune-tried-finds-in-adversity-the-seed-of-praise/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Struggles are not associated to a particular people or creed, everyone struggles, not for the same reasons, but each has a personal struggle at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-chirisa/struggles-are-not-associated-to-a-particular-people-or-creed-everyone/) [Wayne Chirisa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-chirisa/) > [“Watch a man in times of adversity to discover what kind of man he is; for then at last words of truth are drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucretius/watch-a-man-in-times-of-adversity-to-discover-what-kind-of-man-he-is/) [Lucretius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucretius/) > [God often hides His blessing in trouble or trial, which makes it all the sweeter when it comes our way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/god-often-hides-his-blessing-in-trouble-or-trial-which-makes-it-all/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [“Life is not about less mistakes but about more trials”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-sever/life-is-not-about-less-mistakes-but-about-more-trials/) S.E. SEVER > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-everything-feels-like-an-uphill-struggle-just-think-of-the-view/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 5,001 Adversity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adversity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The prince who relies upon their words, without having otherwise provided for his security, is ruined; for friendships that are won by awards, and not by greatness and nobility of soul, although deserved, yet are not real, and cannot be depended upon in time of adversity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Niccolo Machiavelli" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-prince-who-relies-upon-their-words-without-having-otherwise/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Adversity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-prince-who-relies-upon-their-words-without-having-otherwise/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_adversity_the-prince-who-relies-upon-their-words-w_3106785.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_adversity_the-prince-who-relies-upon-their-words-w_3106785.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5b/niccolo-machiavelli-368_adversity_the-prince-who-relies-upon-their-words-w_3106785.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The prince who relies upon their words, without having otherwise provided for his security, is ruined; for…” — Niccolo Machiavelli", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Niccolo Machiavelli", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niccolo-machiavelli/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The prince who relies upon their...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-prince-who-relies-upon-their-words-without-having-otherwise/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niccolo-machiavelli/the-prince-who-relies-upon-their-words-without-having-otherwise/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```